Book Report: A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken

 

A simple summary is impossible. The author recounts the total devotion of the depth of his love for his wife, their life together, their conversion to Christianity, her tragic illness and death in her thirties, his grieving, and finally, the spiritual realities he encountered in dealing with her death in the context of faith. With roots in Virginia, evidently from a well-to-do family, he met, fell in love, and married just prior to World War II. He recounts their travels to the Pacific theater of operations, life in the U. S., graduate school at Oxford, their conversion to Christianity, and return to Virginia. The issue became this: after becoming Christians, the author’s wife ‘Davy’ made Christ her first love, without wavering in her love for the author, but he kept his first love focused on her, while  also believing in the truths of Christianity.

 Most married couples have other paths, which occur when the difficulties of married life surface. Either they work through difficulties, or they give up on their marriage. But Sheldon and Davy remained devoted to each other, with no evidence of facing this test over the fifteen years of their love and marriage. And that was the challenge: Christ will ultimately abide no competitors. The Bible gives clear direction for how the love of husband and wife is to be placed in God’s economy. Davy accepted this, but Sheldon resisted. As the author relates it, ultimately it was the mercy of God, which was severe, which allowed him to be tested by removing the obstacle to him putting God first. All this was worked out while the author was in contact with C. S. Lewis, whom he had come to know at Oxford and subsequently corresponded with.

 There are a few interesting asides. One is a letter from C.S. Lewis, written in May 1954, on the Christian view of homosexuality and the potential theology of gay marriage. (Chapter VI, p 147-148)  But the title of the book comes from a C. S. Lewis comment in a letter after all has transpired. Lewis himself  lost his wife after four years of marriage, but this did not happen until after all these events (including his counsel to the author). Lewis wrote A Grief Observed after his wife’s death a few years later. One wonders how his words to Sheldon might have been different after his own grief.  This book was written well after C. S. Lewis’ book and death.

 How does one deal with God’s discipline of His children? It is the age old challenge of reconciling God’s holiness with His love. These were reconciled in the cross of Christ, but we mostly accept that theology and do not plumb the depth of visceral spiritual agony that Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane in order to have the strength to go through with it. This author draws us into his internal struggle with suffering and unanswered prayer. And thus to plumb the depths of God’s severe mercy. He loves us and acts for our own best, long-term outcome, however painful that may seem at the time. That is the conclusion we can draw from Sheldon Vanauken’s autobiography.

Book report: Eat the Rich, by P. J. O’Rourke

I can’t remember who recommended this book. A satirical (and hilarious) tour of the world to experience first-hand the consequences of the implementation of various theories of economics and governance: free markets, socialism, and communism. Along the way: Wall Street, Albania, Sweden, Cuba, Russia, Tanzania, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Plus a side stop in a college Econ course to show what is wrong with basic economic textbooks (and introductory classes). [Fundamentally, they ignore the basic realities of life, in favor of theoretical equations that are irrelevant.] The amazing thing is that the author is a self-admitted former hippie and writer for Rolling Stone magazine.

The bottom line is that business and wealth creation are based on a simple principle: Voluntary exchanges, in which each party to the trade gives up something he values less in order to receive something he values more, increase prosperity. Self-interest is thereby harnessed for the good of society as a whole. (Credit to Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776) What flows from this are a few statements that liberals and socialists reject:

•      Governments are intrinsically inefficient

•      Economies can’t be designed

•      The rule of law and respect for others’ property is an essential function for prosperity

•      Even though the poor are poorer than the wealthy, they do not improve their state in life by robbing them (criminally or through government-run redistribution).

•      Free markets tell the truth about economics

There is a short digression on the tenth commandment (Exodus 20:17). The author interprets it to mean that God says “hands off other peoples’ stuff”. He does not address the deeper spiritual question of hearts that are set on earthly treasure rather than heavenly (Matthew 6:19-21) because that is not his purpose. (I think a better understanding of the tenth commandment is that God says “hearts off other peoples’ stuff”.)

Fundamentally, the problem with socialism and communism is practical. They have been repeatedly demonstrated to be a complete failure, as recognized by the people living under them, in various places such as Russia, China, Cuba, and Tanzania. The author’s world tour provides innumerable practical examples at the level of daily life for the ordinary person. For poor people to have a better life (food, shelter, clothing, etc.), on a level above prehistoric hunter-gatherers, society as a whole needs to increase wealth. This can only happen through a free market, and will never happen under socialism or communism. And, as a bonus, in an effort to make their system work, communist & socialist leaders impose dictatorial control in a frantic (and fruitless) effort to force people to do what doesn't make sense.

My observation: This is largely why most of Latin America is attempting to emigrate to the United States - not for government handouts, but for the opportunity to participate in an economy that works.

Gen Z - beware! “We are Borg: you will be assimilated; resistance is futile.”

 This line from Star Trek Voyager was first aired in the late 1990’s. As the television episodes aired, the Borg were described as a species of humanoids that were cybernetically connected to each other and the central network via electronic implants. They were thus almost organic robots, although the series showed that they retained some degree of autonomy. Their overarching ethos was that they acted in accordance with moment by moment direction from this collective brain, and thus would be able to defeat any other species that had individual members not so connected.

 This paradigm aired while the internet was still in its infancy, approximately ten years before the “smart phone” was invented. Curiously, it also was right at the milestone marking the beginning of Gen Z birth years.

 In the present day, in a large part of the world, young people feel lost if they do not have their smart phone with them. This is manifested as a loss of direction, boredom, isolation. Although the internet does not provide moment by moment direction on what to say or do, it provides advice from innumerable pundits, connectivity for conversation with friends, and entertainment. We haven’t yet arrived at the Borg collective state. What is most troubling is the epidemic of mental illness and social dysfunction. Whether it is depression, a shooting spree, or hatred spewed in “social media”, continuous connectivity with internet-based platforms enables and often promotes anti-social mindsets and behaviors.

A key part of life first disappeared with radio and television. Once upon a time, silence was a common occurrence for people who were alone. This made it possible for prayer to connect to God, and easier to hear His voice. Radio & TV banished silence, but it is the smartphone and social media that now offers as a surrogate for connecting to God, continuous connection to the hive. Of course, there is an infinite difference between the experience of the presence of an infinite, transcendent God, and hearing the consensus of a large number of humans of limited intelligence and varying degrees of dubious amoral self-righteousness. If they can consense on anything.

These technological capabilities are here to stay. How can society cope with them to stabilize behaviors and live with them?

What most of humankind experienced in history during solitude and quiet was a tension between hearing God’s voice (and then having to decide whether or not to heed it), or occupying themselves (mind, will, emotions) with things of the world, the flesh, and/or the devil. This produced both Mother Teresa and Adolf Hitler. The challenge to adolescents is harder than previous generations, which “merely” had to choose to listen for God’s voice, and then recognize (discern) it. Gen Z, defined by children growing up with “smart phones”, now has to deal with an insidious surrogate in which the postings of friends or influencers are enhanced with a dopamine boost. This is a stronger influence to the flesh than the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. (It is possible that influencers could be godly encouragers, such as Robert Barron or David Guzik, but they are far less stimulating to the flesh than the latest TikTok craze.) Adolescence is a phase in life during which external stimulation produces a growing visceral response as the body and mind mature into adulthood. The difference in degree between Gen Z stimuli and previous generations is so great that it differs in kind.

 How can we help adolescents cope with this insidious plague of social media?

·         First and foremost, to explain it to them. Teens are young adults, and twenty-somethings should not be allowed a prolonged excuse for irresponsibility. Teens have adult-level reasoning capability, although not the breadth or depth of experience of older compatriots. They can understand this intellectually.

·         Secondly, it is necessary to motivate young people to choose to not become Borg. The promises of Christ are amazing but they are mostly of service in this life, with rewards deferred to eternal bliss with Him. The motivation is meaningful life and a spiritual connection to God Himself. This is not nirvana, but purposeful activity that does not include slavery to social media. In our heart of hearts, we secretly want a meaningful life, but our carnal weaknesses war against it.

It seems doubtful that any program of government or educational or religious rules or practices can win this war. The battle must be waged on an individual basis by those closest.